Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-08-04

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey creates problems to the Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus passports.

[02] Statements by Rauf and Sertar Denktas at the gathering for the anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party.

[03] The opposition in Turkey strongly criticized the Turkish Government^Òs policy towards the Cyprus problem.

[04] General Sukru Sarriisik was appointed as the new NSC secretary.

[05] Irsen Kucuk claims that the occupation authorities do not prevent movement of goods in Cyprus.

[06] New restriction from the occupation regime.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey creates problems to the Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus passports

Mr Denktas said: ^ÓWe hope many other companies will come to this beautiful country for investment and in the process enrich it. I am fully convinced on this matter, for our people is sound, alert, and knowledgeable, and will therefore administer itself accordingly. Availing myself of this opportunity, I want to convey to you a report I have received today, I want to bring clarity to an issue. Twenty of our citizens have gone to Turkey with the passports obtained from the Greek Cypriot side. During entry to Turkey they apparently used their own passports, but I am not sure about it. They would have needed a visa for entry with the Greek Cypriot passports, and I do not know if they obtained visas. In any case, when they wanted to leave Turkey to go to Europe or somewhere else, the Turkish authorities naturally prevented their departure. They rightfully obstructed them. What I want to say is this: Those who obtain these passports for some purpose should know that they can enter Turkey with our own passports and identity cards and could only depart Turkey in the way that they enter in keeping with the Turkish laws. Turkey has a decision stipulating that there can be no departures from Turkey with Greek Cypriot passports. Let everyone know this to avoid wasting time and unnecessary disillusionment. I received telephone calls today on this issue. Nothing can be done about it, for the decision is correct and fitting.^Ô

[02] Statements by Rauf and Sertar Denktas at the gathering for the anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party

^ÓWe are face to face with people who do not tell the truth to our people, who lie, resort to ploys to conceal from the people the statements made by the Turkish politicians, and distort the realities. As such, I, as the `President´ of this `state´, will support the activities of the pro-state parties, except attending their congresses and rallies^×though when the time comes I might also attend their rallies if invited. I do not know about that yet though. I'll do so because they [the opposition] are targeting me, as if I am running in the elections, they have launched a campaign juxtaposing me against the Annan plan and the EU. I will do what is necessary, because it is my duty to support those parties that stand up for the `state´, without discriminating between them. I am with you all so long as you stand up for the `state´. I think I am tasked with the duty of telling the truth to the people in the face of those who do not stand up for the `state´ and who are about to commit the same mistake together with the Greek Cypriots, who want to take us into the EU without Turkey so as to disrupt the Turkish-Greek balance formed in 1960 agreements and which guarantees our lives and existence. That is why I am with you tonight. You are standing up for the `state´. May God not leave you without `state´, flag, and Turkey. You should know that all your efforts in this direction will be for the welfare of this people. It will be your duty to democratically solve the people's complaints in time. You will either solve these problems, or defer to those who could. But, in all cases, the `state´ will continue to exist. If, however, the statehood is disowned, if this `state´ is abolished, if Turkey is eliminated in collaboration with the Greek Cypriots on the path of the EU, then you will never again acquire another `state´. And the communities without `state´ could only be minorities. What an agreement says does not matter. You saw the 1960 agreement, it talked about a constituent partner. Yet, what happened? We have been wasting our lives for the 40 years claiming our rights. And who is listening to us? Rather they have been assaulting us by saying that there exists a Cyprus Republic with a legitimate government. By September there will be an increase in these assaults and pressures on us. I am not scared of pressure, for you are a people that has managed to resist the pressures of 1963 and 1974 and stood up for, your `state´, for, you are members of a party that has stood up for your `state´.^Ô

On his party the leader of DP, Rauf Denktas´ son Serdar, said: ^ÓThere are two differing groups in the country. One gathered the masses in the squares by exploiting our people, by exploiting the unemployment of the young, the housing problem of our citizens, and the non-payment of the civil servants for the last two years. Though the people gathered at the squares to voice its grievances, they exploited our people's feelings by giving the false message to the world that the people no more wants this state and `President´ Denktas, it just wants a peace whatever its form. Their ruse has now been exposed, yet they still remain champions of exploitation. They are now trying to exploit in a new manner our blood brothers who after 1974 came from the north [Turkey] and settled on these lands, who turned these lands into a homeland with us, who live, suffer, find love, and die here.^Ô

[03] The opposition in Turkey strongly criticized the Turkish Government^Òs policy towards the Cyprus problem

As the paper reports, Mr Baykal stated that they do not want a solution which will deprive the Turkish Cypriot community of its rights. On his part Mr Bahceli accused the Turkish government of showing ^Óunbelievable neglect^Ô and making concessions regarding the Cyprus problem and stressed that the policy that the Turkish Government follows ^Óis a sin and a serious political and legal crime^Ô .Mr Subasi stated that despite the fact that the leadership of Mr Denktas is unquestionable, it is the easy way to let the solution of the Cyprus problem in Denktas´ hands. He also accused the Turkish government of not following a firm policy on Cyprus.

[04] General Sukru Sarriisik was appointed as the new NSC secretary

General Sukru Sariisik, formerly the commander to the Turkish Army^Òs Fifth Corps, was appointed to the position of NSC Secretary, one of the decisions ratified by the government and the chiefs of the defence staff at the meeting of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), which concluded four days of deliberations on Sunday.

Though legislative reforms passed by the parliament last week opened the way for the appointment of someone from outside the ranks of the armed forces to the position, and left the nominating of the proposed incumbent to the Prime Minister, General Sariisik was given the task.

His role includes setting the agenda for the now revamped council, which has been reformed to give greater emphasis to its recommendatory nature, rather than its previous status, when its decisions were binding on state policy. The reforms were part of Turkey^Òs efforts to meet the requirements of membership of the European Union, one of which was to reduce the role of the military in political activity.

Prior to the decision to appoint General Sariisik, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Sahin said that it was not mandatory to have a civilian in the job

[05] Irsen Kucuk claims that the occupation authorities do not prevent movement of goods in Cyprus

Talking at a press conference on Saturday, Mr Kucuk said that the pseudostate has trade relations with about one hundred states and added: ^ÓWe have no objection to begin trade relations with the south within the framework of our laws which govern the trade^Ô.

Mr Kucuk alleged that the government of Cyprus tries to deceive the Turkish Cypriots because it buys only the 1500 tons of the total of 100 thousand tons of cereals produced on the occupied areas.

[06] New restriction from the occupation regime

According to the decision of the so-called Council Ministers, those who want to cross to the free areas of Cyprus with their commercial vehicles, type of van, pick-up or lorry, must apply first to the occupation authorities for permission.

/SK

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